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| Lady Gaga at Athens Eleftherios Venizelos airport on September 17. Spare a thought for Calcutta airport, Lady! |
Mother Monster was set loose when Reddit, the “front page of the Internet”, invited her for an Ask Me Anything session last week. Though the idea was to promote her new album –– Cheek To Cheek (which has made its debut on top of Billboard 200) –– with Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga went way beyond her brief. Here’s how it went.
How are you today?
I am wonderful today. How are you?! I’m loving my new tattoo!
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Out of all the tattoos you have, which one has the most sentimental value to you and why?
My favourite tattoo is the one I got last night in Hamburg; it’s the Monster Paw, the symbol of my fans as they have held their paws high in the crowd every night since we became a community. I cherish it for its meaning, the loyalty, devotion and strength we share. I wanted it engraved on me forever.
Ms. Gaga, ma’am, now we gotta know your favourite metal song.
Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath. I need to write a song called Lady Gaga. It’s the most metal thing you can do!
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I’m actually also a metal dudette, worked at a metal bar for years, and was a go-go dancer at rock ’’ roll clubs. Last night when I got my tattoo of the monster paw, I was listening to Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Metallica, AC/DC, Judas Priest. And then other times I listen to Sigur Ros and nature sounds, like birds, water, and such.
But on other nights, I like to slug whisky and scream Bruce Springsteen and Garth Brooks with my dad (Joe Germanotta) in the bar at his restaurant (Joanne Trattoria). I have a lot of different sides to my personality, but even MORE different sides musically.
How does one go about acquiring a meat dress?
A butcher and some fishing line. But there was a message behind that dress. I wore it attending the VMA with gay discharged soldiers from the military to make a statement. When we die, the meat on our bones bears no sexuality, no difference. We should not discriminate against those willing to give their life to protect Americans. Because when our lives are taken, we are meat all the same.
In Bang Bang, you changed one lyric to “Not for me, no church bells rang.” (The original song had the words: Music played and people sang/ Just for me the church bells rang.) Why?
I sometimes change small lyrics in the standards, to make them more personal to me. I thought of my ex-lover, he married someone else. “Not for me, no church bells rang.”
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What’s it like to have a genus of ferns named after you?
It’s pretty cool, especially since it’s an asexual fern, there are 19 species contained within the genus. All sexless, judgeless… how cool. How I wish to be.
You were raised in a Catholic family. You also said they were your support. What do they think of your LBGT activism? How are the relations with them now?
I grew up Catholic, but we always had a very open and loving family. When I was young they never discriminated against the many gay friends I had from theatre and dance school. Now they are more passionate than ever about LGBT rights and work day and night on my charity Born This Way Foundation.
Do you invent your melodies yourself?
Yes, always. I’ve written all my songs, sometimes in collaboration with producers. But the melodies and the lyrics, these are my speciality. I LOVE WRITING SONGS, it’s like breathing fresh air!
What’s a hobby that you’re into that most of your fans don’t know about?
I’m really into healing, meditation, and helping to take care of those around me. When I’m not working, I’m really a traditional Italian girl at heart. I like to cook, keep everyone in a peaceful place, and reflect on the ways I can spread love with every invention.
I also like to shoot beer cans off the porch in PA (Pennsylvania) with my BF (Taylor Kinney), off our four-wheeler. There’s a lot you don’t know! What a loaded question!!!
We all know you’re a good classically trained pianist. What classical music piece do you like the most?
I love (Felix) Mendelssohn’s Songs Without Words book. This was the first time I realised classical music is the genesis of pop. The chord changes, the time signatures. It just had no lyrics yet this inspired me to write poetry in line with these pieces.
Do you watch anime?
I do! In fact, I had Hatsune Miku, a digital pop star 3D singing-hologram (anime inspired) artiste, open for me on the artRave!
Loved your cameo in Sin City. Any plans on making more movie appearances?
Yes! I’m just getting started. Looking forward to taking some time to write music and investigate new projects!
Do you remember the very moment you actually stopped yourself for a moment, looked around, and thought: “Yep, I’ve finally made it”?
I have that moment almost every day. I go in and out of what seems to be a dream sequence. Some moments I forget I’ve become a successful artiste at all (when I’m working away writing songs), then other times I pinch myself. Because I couldn’t be more humbled to be where I am today.
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The “deviation” from pop to jazz has been really interesting for many who have never been exposed to this music previously. Are there other musical genres that you would like to explore?
I was in a classic rock cover band (and) at the same time I was in a jazz band in high school, doing jazz state competitions. We were called Mackin’ Pulsifer. I have a real passion for Robert Plant’s vocals; Led Zeppelin was a huge inspiration for me. I’m certain that side of my musicianship will seep through the pores of music in the future.
Who wins an arm wrestle: you or Tony Bennett?
Tony, he’s got the biggest balls in the business, as quoted by Frank Sinatra.
What was the most difficult song to record on Cheek To Cheek?
Recording Lush Life was difficult for me, not so much vocally as mentally and emotionally. It is autobiographical for me, those lyrics. But Tony told me to use that pain to make the performance honest.
Will you be releasing your original composition Paradise?
I’m still finishing Paradise. It would be my first released jazz composition, so I wanted to make it perfect!
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| What’s your opinion on cheap noodles? Nothing like Ramen; it has saved many a starving lower East Side night |
What’s your favourite sandwich condiment?
Mayo.
If you could have lunch with anyone who has ever existed, who would that be?
John Lennon.
